Semi-automatic apparatus for washing a building

ABSTRACT

A building cleaning apparatus includes a platform adapted to be suspended along a side of a building. The platform includes a base and a barrier mounted on the base that encloses an operator work station. The building cleaning apparatus includes a building cleaning structure mounted beneath the base of the platform. The building cleaning structure includes a cleaning component that is driven by a motor. The cleaning component is mounted such that at least a portion of the cleaning component is directly beneath the base of the platform during cleaning of the building.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/381,366, filed Aug. 30, 2016.

BACKGROUND

Building structures, particularly tall urban buildings and skyscrapers, are frequently washed manually. This is often done by suspending a window washer operator alongside a building via a suspended platform (i.e., a swing stage or suspended scaffolding). However, manually washing windows can be time consuming and the effectiveness can be entirely dependent upon the skill of the window washer.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to a cleaning or washing apparatus that mounts to the bottom of a suspended platform for providing cleaning or washing of windows and other vertical surfaces of a tall building. The cleaning or washing apparatus is configured to efficiently and reliably clean the side of the building. An operator on the platform can modify operation of the cleaning or washing apparatus as needed, can perform touch-up work, can control upward and downward movement of the platform, and can monitor whether the platform is suitably stabilized relative to the building.

In a first aspect, a building cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The building cleaning apparatus includes a platform adapted to be suspended along a side of a building. The platform includes a base and a barrier mounted on the base that encloses an operator work station. The building cleaning apparatus includes a building cleaning structure mounted beneath the base of the platform. The building cleaning structure includes a cleaning component that is driven by a motor. The cleaning component is mounted such that at least a portion of the cleaning component is directly beneath the base of the platform during cleaning of the building.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate particular examples of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Examples of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example davit system for supporting a suspended platform as the suspended platform is raised and lowered along the side of a building;

FIG. 2 depicts a building maintenance unit (BMU) for raising and lowering a suspended platform along the side of a building;

FIG. 3 is another view of the BMU of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example mullion guide system for stabilizing a suspended platform relative to the side of a building;

FIG. 4a is a detailed view of a mullion guide interface;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example tie-in system for stabilizing a suspended platform relative to the side of a building;

FIG. 5a is a detailed view of a tie-in location of the tie-in system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 depicts an example guide button system for stabilizing a suspended platform relative to the side of a building;

FIG. 6a is a detailed view of an interface of the guide button system of FIG. 6 with the suspended platform;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a cleaning/washing apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure that attaches beneath a suspended platform; and

FIG. 8 is another view of the cleaning/washing apparatus of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Suspended platforms (i.e., swing stages, suspended scaffoldings, etc.) are used to support window washers as window washers manually wash the windows of tall buildings. The platforms are suspended from the roofs or from tiers of the buildings. Hoist systems are used to raise and lower the platform along the sides of the buildings as the windows are manually washed. The type of hoist systems used to raise and lower the platforms can be dependent upon the height of the buildings being washed. For example, buildings having a height of 490 feet or less typically use a davit system to support suspended platforms as the suspended platforms are raised and lowered along the side of the building. In contrast, buildings having a height greater than 490 feet typically use a building maintenance unit to raise and lower the platforms along the side of a building.

FIG. 1 shows an example davit system 20 for raising and lowering a suspended platform 22 along the side of a building 21. The suspended platform 22 includes a base 24 (i.e., a floor) including a support surface on which a window washer or multiple window washers can stand. The suspended platform 22 also includes a barrier 26 (i.e., a wall, a fence, a rail) that extends around the perimeter of the base 24 so as to define a partially enclosed working station in which the window washers can work. The suspended platform 22 is extended along a length and defines a walkway for allowing the window washers to walk or otherwise move along the length of the platform when conducting window washing. The window washers are harnessed to the suspended platform 22.

The davit system 20 includes two davit arms 30 mounted on a roof or on a tier 23 of the building. The davit arms 30 are essentially cantilevers that overhang the side of the building 21. In one example, base ends of the davit arms 30 can be mounted within anchor sockets defined within the roof 23 of the building 21. In another example, the davit arms 30 can be mounted on tracks secured to the building 21 for allowing the davit arms 30 to be moved while remaining secured to the building 21. The davit arms 30 can be pivoted about vertical axes to maneuver the suspended platform 22 onto and off of the roof 23. Ends of the cantilever portions of the davit arms 30 include attachment locations for attaching lift cables 32 for raising and lowering the suspended platform 22. The lift cables 32 are extended and retracted by hoists or winches 34 that are typically mounted to the suspended platform 22 near the ends of the suspended platform. Thus, operation of the platform mounted hoists/winches 34 provides the mechanical torque/power for raising and lowering the suspended platform 22 relative to the building 21.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example BMU system 40 for raising and lowering a suspended platform 42 along the side of a building. The suspended platform 42 can have the same general configuration as the suspended platform 22, except hoists or winches for raising and lowering the suspended platform 42 are not provided on the suspended platform 42. Instead, the BMU system 40 includes a roof-mounted crane 44 having an integrated hoist or winch system that provides the motive torque for winding and unwinding lift cables used to raise and lower the suspended platform 42. The crane 44 can include an extended boom 48 that in many cases can telescopically extend and retract. The crane 44 can be mounted on the tracks on the roof 23 to allow movement of the crane 44. Additionally, the boom 48 can be pivoted up and down and can also be pivoted about a vertical axis to facilitate moving the suspended platform 42 as needed.

The suspended platforms 22, 42 are preferably secured to the building by lift cables and also by structures that prevent the suspended platforms 22, 42 from swinging away from the building. A number of systems (i.e., securing systems) are used to stabilize suspended platforms. Such systems can be used with both davit systems and BMU systems. Example securing systems include mullion guide systems, tie-in systems, and button guide systems.

FIGS. 4 and 4 a show an example mullion guide system 60 for stabilizing a suspended platform. The mullion guide system 60 includes vertically extending mullion guides or tracks 62 that are integrated with the building 21. The mullion guide system 60 also includes rollers 64 or slide shoes that are coupled to the suspended platform 22, 42 and that are captured within the mullion guides 62. As the suspended platform 22, 42 is raised or lowered, the rollers or slide shoes slide or move vertically within the mullion guides 62. Interference between the rollers/slide shoes 64 and the mullion guides 62 provide continuous stabilization that prevents the suspended platform from moving laterally outward from the side of the building. In some examples, the mullion guide system 60 includes external rollers/bumpers 65 that are coupled to the suspended platform 22, 42 and are configured to interface with the side of the building 21, outside of the mullion guides 62.

FIGS. 5 and 5 a show an example tie-in system 70 for stabilizing a suspended platform 22. The tie-in system 70 includes tie-in locations 72 (e.g., tie-in anchor points, sockets, etc.) integrated with the building 21. The tie-in system 70 also includes tie-in structures 74 slidably secured to the lift cables 32 of the suspended platform 22. The tie-in structures 74 include cords 75 having first ends including loops 76 through which lift cables 32 extend and second ends including pins 77 (e.g., anchors, snap-fit structures, etc.) that can be anchored to the tie-in locations 72. As the suspended platform 22 is lowered down a building 21, the window washers progressively anchor the tie-in structures 74 to the tie-in locations 72 to tie the lift cables 32 to the building 21 such that the distance the suspended platform 22 can swing away from the building 21 is limited. As the suspended platform 22 is lifted back up the building 21, the tie-in structures 74 are progressively disconnected from the tie-in locations 72. In some examples, the tie-in system 70 includes external rollers/bumpers 79, similar to the rollers/bumpers 65 described above, that are coupled to the suspended platform 22 and are configured to interface with the side of the building 21.

FIGS. 6 and 6 a show an example button guide system 80 for stabilizing a suspended platform 22. The button guide system 80 includes vertically extending tracks 82 that are integrated with the platform 22. The button guide system 80 also includes buttons 84 that are integrated with the building 21. As the suspended platform 22 is raised or lowered, the tracks 82 receive the buttons 84. Interference between the tracks 82 and the buttons 84 provides stabilization that prevents the suspended platform 22 from moving laterally outward from the side of the building 21.

FIG. 7 depicts a building cleaning/washing apparatus 500 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The cleaning/washing apparatus 500 can include a suspended platform 506. In certain examples, the platform can be a platform compatible with a davit system (e.g., a platform like platform 22) or a platform compatible with a BMU system (e.g., a platform like platform 42). The cleaning/washing apparatus also includes a cleaning structure 508 that mounts directly beneath a base 507 of the suspended platform 506. In one example, the cleaning structure 508 is a powered cleaning structure that automatically cleans the windows of the building 21 as well as portions of the building between the windows as the cleaning/washing apparatus 500 is raised and lowered along the building side. The cleaning structure 508 can include a cleaning element/component 505 such as a brush that is powered/driven (e.g., rotated or otherwise moved) by a motor. In one example, the cleaning structure 508 includes a cylindrical cleaning component 505 (e.g., a cylindrical brush structure) that is rotated by a motor 509 about a rotation axis 536. In one example, the cleaning component 505 can include flexible radial cleaning elements such as bristles, flaps, or strips. In one example, the rotation axis 536 extends along a length of the platform 506. In one example, the rotation axis 536 is parallel to the base 507 of the platform. In one example, the cleaning structure 508 includes a cylindrical brush having a length that extends along a length of the platform 506, the cylindrical brush being rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical brush. In one example, the cleaning component 505 (e.g., a cleaning brush) is mounted and configured such that at least a portion remains directly beneath the platform base 507 of the platform during cleaning of the building. In one example, the cleaning component 505 is mounted and configured such that at least a majority of the cleaning component 505 (e.g., a cleaning brush) remains directly beneath the platform base 507 during cleaning of the building 21. In one example, the cleaning component 505 is mounted and configured such that an axis of rotation of the cleaning component 505 (e.g., a cleaning brush) remains directly beneath the platform base 507 during cleaning of the building. In one example, the cleaning component 505 includes a cylindrical brush having a length and a longitudinal axis of rotation that extend along the length of the platform 506, and the cylindrical brush is mounted and configured such that at least 25 percent of the brush remains directly beneath the platform base 507 during cleaning of the building. In one example, the cleaning component 505 includes a cylindrical brush having a length and a longitudinal axis of rotation that extend along the length of the platform 506, and the cylindrical brush is mounted and configured such that at least 50 percent of the brush remains directly beneath the platform base 507 during cleaning of the building. In one example, the cleaning component 505 includes a cylindrical brush having a length and a longitudinal axis of rotation that extend along the length of the platform 506, and cylindrical brush is mounted and configured such that the axis of rotation of the brush remains directly beneath the platform base 507 during cleaning of the building. In one example, the cylindrical brush structure has a length longer, shorter, or about the same as the length of the platform. In one example, the cylindrical brush structure has a length that extends for at least a majority of the length of the platform 506. In one example, the cleaning structure 508 includes a frame 538 secured by one or more fastening elements 513 (e.g., clamps, brackets, fasteners) to the platform base 507. In one example, the cleaning structure 508 includes a shroud 515 that surrounds a portion of the cleaning component 505. In one example, the cleaning structure 508 includes a shroud 515 that surrounds a portion of a cylindrical cleaning brush 505. In one example, the cleaning component 505 is movable relative to the frame 538 and to the platform 506 to maintain contact with the building 21 during cleaning (i.e., washing) of the building 21. Such movement (as shown by an arrow 541) allows the cleaning component 505 to be adjusted. In one example, the cleaning component 505 is spring loaded so as to allow the cleaning component 505 to slide along the width of the frame 538 when the cleaning component 505 encounters an obstruction. In such an example, once the cleaning component 505 clears the obstruction, it can spring back into place in a direction toward the building 21. In other examples, the cleaning component 505 can be moved using gears, levers, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, electrically powered actuators, etc.

In one example, the cleaning structure does not include a fan for forcing the cleaning component 505 toward the building 21 during cleaning of the building 21.

The cleaning structure 508 can also include an obstruction bar 539 positioned at a bottom side of the cleaning structure 508. The obstruction bar 539 is configured to alter the operations of the cleaning structure 508 when the obstruction bar 539 contacts an obstruction. In some embodiments, the obstruction bar 539 can interface with a controller that controls the operation of a hoist system and the operation of the cleaning structure 508 so that when an obstruction is encountered, the controller automatically shuts down the operation of the hoist system and/or the cleaning structure 508. The obstruction bar 539 interfaces with mechanical or electronic control devices such that actuation of the bar 539 by an obstruction causes the hoist system and or cleaning structure to shut down. In the case where the cleaning structure is a retrofit device used to retrofit an existing platform by adding the cleaning structure to the bottom of the platform, existing wheels and an existing obstruction bar of the platform can be removed to facilitate mounting the cleaning structure. In such a case, the cleaning structure can include an obstruction bar that performs the same function as the obstruction bar removed from the platform.

In one example, the cleaning structure 508 is a powered cleaning structure having one or more cleaning elements that are driven relative to the platform 506 by a power source. In certain examples, the cleaning element or elements can include a brush or brushes. In certain examples, the brush or brushes are driven in a rotary motion relative to the platform. In certain examples, the power source includes one or more motors such as one or more electric motors, or one or more combustion engines. In some examples, the cleaning structure 508 is a specialty manufactured apparatus. In some examples, the cleaning device can be an add-on device that can be added to an existing platform to temporarily or permanently retrofit the platform so as to include automated cleaning features. Alternatively, the cleaning device can be incorporated into the platform at the time the platform is initially manufactured. In other examples, an existing pre-manufactured platform can be modified to arrive at the washing apparatus 500.

The cleaning apparatus 500 can be used to clean an upright surface 102 of a building 21 (e.g., a skyscraper or high-rise building). The upright surface 102 can be the side of the building 21 including, for example, windows or the structure of the building between the windows. The cleaning apparatus 500 can be raised and lowered along the building by a davit system or a BMU system, and can be stabilized relative to the building by stabilization structures of the type described above (e.g., mullion guide systems, tie-in systems, button guide systems). The surface 102 includes the roof 23 and is resting on a ground surface. It should be understood that the ground surface can be anything that the structure 102 is resting on, including, other parts of the building, for example, a tiered building having other intermediate setbacks or roofs.

The washing apparatus 500 is shown cleaning the upright surface 102. The washing apparatus 500 is configured to move in a vertical direction along the upright surface 102 during cleaning.

With continued reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the cleaning structure 508 is adapted to contact the upright surface 102 during cleaning. Specifically, the cleaning structure 508 is configured to automatically clean the upright surface 102 as the washing apparatus 500 travels vertically along the upright surface 102 during operation. The cleaning structure 508 uses a power source, such as a battery, power cord or other external power source, and a water source (i.e., a hose) along with a spray nozzle 511 to clean the upright surface 102. In some examples, the power cord and hose can be routed from the roof 23.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A method of cleaning a surface of a building, comprising: mounting a cleaning brush to a platform having a base and a longitudinal axis, with the cleaning brush being rotatable about a rotation axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, the cleaning brush being mounted to the platform in a manner to define a walkway on the base to a rear of the rotation axis of the cleaning brush that permits a human operator to walk on the base of the platform along at least a portion of the length of the brush; and with the platform suspended from the building with the human operator on the platform, raising or lowering the platform along the surface while the cleaning brush rotates in contact with the surface to thereby clean the surface using the cleaning brush.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: the platform is connected to a davit system, and comprising using the davit system to raise and lower the platform; or the platform is connected to a roof mounted crane, and comprising using the crane to raise and lower the platform.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting the platform to stabilization structure to stabilize the platform relative to the building.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the surface is a window or structure of the building adjacent to a window.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the platform includes a barrier mounted to the base that defines an operator work station, the barrier includes a front side and a rear side, and when the platform is suspended from the building the front side faces the surface of the building; and comprising mounting the cleaning brush to the platform so that the rotation axis is closer to the front side than to the rear side.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting the cleaning brush to the platform comprises: a) mounting the cleaning brush to an existing platform to temporarily or permanently retrofit the platform; or b) mounting the cleaning brush to the platform at the time the platform is manufactured. 